SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with emergency medical service (EMS) providers in several counties to launch a pilot program that allows EMS responders to administer buprenorphine in the field.
Buprenorphine is a medication that helps treat opioid use disorder and reduce the risk of future opioid overdoses.
The DOH says many patients experience immediate withdrawal symptoms after an overdose and this medication helps alleviate those symptoms while simultaneously starting medication treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). The medication temporarily stabilizes patients and provides short-term relief from withdrawal symptoms to help responders better engage in conversations around treatment, recovery and social services.
“The Department of Health is determined to help Washingtonians live healthy and fulfilling lives, and to stop this opioid crisis from robbing those lives from our neighbors, friends, and family members,” said Umair A. Shah, the DOH Secretary of Health. “This pilot program will help us reach that goal and will put critical care closer to the people who need it most. We’re grateful to our first responders for being on the frontlines in this critical effort.”
Seven Washington counties have joined the pilot program with three are already administering buprenorphine through their EMS providers.
Paramedics are providing buprenorphine in Seattle, Clallam and Spokane Counties. Clark, Snohomish, San Juan and Whatcom Counties have been approved to participate in the pilot program. The Seattle Fire Department has administered 39 doses of buprenorphine as of October 9 and plans to expand the pilot to include specially trained emergency medical technicians (EMTs) soon.
Between 2018 and 2023, the DOH reports that the opioid crisis claimed 9,251 lives in Washington and affected countless more. The DOH says the large increase in opioid-related overdose deaths has largely been driven by an epidemic of illicit fentanyl and while much work has been done and progress is being made, many Washingtonians continue to be trapped by these harmful drugs.
The DOH says in many cases, EMS workers are the only healthcare providers a person with OUD may interact with and receive care from so the added tool of buprenorphine seeks to help first responders save more lives and help connect individuals with OUD with resources and permanent treatment.